ANSF Better Equipped After Signing Of BSA: MoD

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The acting minister of defense, Masoom Stankzai, said that after the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States, the process of equipping Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) has largely intensified.

"The supply of military equipment to Afghanistan has considerably intensified," he said, adding that facilities for the maintenance and repair of equipment have also been established.

The Afghan air force was also better equipped with fighter planes, helicopters, drones and surveillance aircraft.

"In April, we will receive MD 530 [helicopters], eight more A29 aircraft will also arrive in Afghanistan and eight drones will be handed over to the Afghan air force," said Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Applauding the international community's support to Afghanistan, Waziri added that it was still not however enough.

Yama Azizi is a pilot, who joined air force around four years ago, and he had played a prominent role in a number of important air raids last year.

"There has been tough fighting in Afghanistan, particularly in southern parts of the country, last year. Our planes were very effective in providing support to the ground troops," said Yama Azizi. He added that Afghan forces should be further equipped with modern weapons.

India also handed over four helicopters to the Afghan air force recently and Russia supplied 10,000 Kalashnikovs to the Afghan national police in January.